Benedum Center for the Performing Arts
801 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA. 15222
Box Office: (412) 281-0912

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2001

PITTSBURGH OPERA CENTER BEGINS ELEVENTH SEASON WITH NEW FORMAT, NEW ARTISTS
One million dollar grant fuels higher production values, extended training

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh Opera announces the eleventh season for Pittsburgh Opera Center, its nationally recognized training program for young professional singers. The 2001-2002 season has been restructured by artistic director Christopher Hahn to include two fully staged operas, increased training and rehearsal time, and important collaborations with other Pittsburgh performing arts organizations.

Partial funding for Pittsburgh Opera Center comes from a one million dollar challenge grant from a prestigious New York foundation. If met, the challenge grant will give Pittsburgh Opera a five million dollar endowment for training, education and outreach programs. General director Mark Weinstein says, "We are extremely grateful for this generous grant. It will help to raise the caliber of training we offer our young artists, which will add depth to the entire company." Major funding is also provided by the Helen F. Whitaker Fund in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and other gracious donors.

The ten artists will perform La Tragédie de Carmen, Peter Brook's intense deconstruction of the Bizet classic, in December 2001 under the direction of Karla Boos, founding director and producer of Pittsburgh's Quantum Theatre. Boos draws from ten years of experience producing theater in non-traditional spaces to create La Tragédie at the Brew House artists' collective in Pittsburgh's South Side. "Producing La Tragédie in the raw warehouse space at the Brew House will make the production a site-specific piece of art," commented Boos. "I love opera and I'm looking forward to contributing a contemporary element to Pittsburgh Opera."

Slated for production in January 2002, Claudio Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea will become the first early Baroque opera produced by Pittsburgh Opera and will be staged in modern dress. Opera Center artists will perform with accompaniment by the renowned baroque ensemble Chatham Baroque and sets from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. L'incoronazione is presented in cooperation with The Renaissance and Baroque Society of Pittsburgh. Weinstein comments, "Baroque opera is an important part of the repertoire. We are excited to move into this arena with two such respected partners." Artistic director Christopher Hahn adds, "We've chosen these two productions because they will add a new level of depth to the artists' training experience in Pittsburgh."

Founded under the leadership of Tito Capobianco in 1990, Pittsburgh Opera Center offers a seven-month season of training in every facet of opera performance. In addition to receiving vocal training with Pittsburgh Opera' s resident faculty and guest instructors, this season's ten young artists will participate in movement, language and yoga classes. Master classes with legendary opera singers and coaches round out the artists' intense season of training. Pittsburgh Opera Center alumni have gone on to perform at such renowned opera houses as the Metropolitan Opera, Arena di Verona, Berlin Staatsoper and Teatro alla Scala.

2001-2002 Opera Center Artists Returning to Pittsburgh Opera Center for a second season are sopranos Melissa Brezinsky and Coral Owdom, tenor Matt Morgan, baritone Matthew Shaw and bass-baritone Daniel Gross. Five artists join Pittsburgh Opera Center for their first season; soprano Zara Barrett, mezzo-sopranos Karin Caspi and Holli Harrison, tenor Javier Abreu and baritone Philipp Sulzburger.

2001-2002 Pittsburgh Opera Center Schedule All tickets for Pittsburgh Opera Center performances are $18, general admission.

La Tragédie de Carmen adapted by Peter Brook from Bizet's Carmen A Pittsburgh Opera Center production in collaboration with Quantum Theatre. Directed by Karla Boos. December 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16 Brew House, 2100 Mary Street, South Side Tickets are available immediately with any Pittsburgh Opera subscription, (412) 281-0912. Single tickets will be available September 5, 2001 through ProArts ticket service, (412) 394-3353 or www.proartstickets.org.

L'incoronazione di Poppea by Claudio Monteverdi In collaboration with Chatham Baroque and the Curtis Institute of Music Presented in cooperation with The Renaissance and Baroque Society of Pittsburgh January 18, 20, 2002 Byham Theater, 101 Sixth Street, downtown Pittsburgh Tickets are available immediately with any Pittsburgh Opera subscription, (412) 281-0912. Single tickets will be available September 5, 2001 at the Byham Theater box office, (412) 456-6666 or www.pgharts.org.

Information For more information about Pittsburgh Opera productions, tickets or programs, please call Pittsburgh Opera's administrative offices at (412) 281-0912, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or visit our Web site at www.pghopera.org.

Source: Pittsburgh Opera

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